32 EXTINCT:-BRITISH ANIMALS. 
the fell-lurking curs by the mere shaking of their 
chains, and describes a hot o’erweening cur running 
back and biting his owner, who withheld him, yet 
when suffered to get within reach of the bear’s fell 
paw, clapped his tail between his legs and howled.— 
Second Part of Henry VI. act v. se. 1. 
The noise of the bear-gardens must have been 
well-nigh unendurable, what with the din of men 
eager to bet on their favourites, and the loud shouts 
of the respective partisans of dog and bear. At the 
present day the comparison of a noisy house to a 
‘“bear-garden” still perpetuates the national amuse- 
ment of our forefathers. 
Happily, such pastimes have long been obsolete, 
although the memory of these bygone days is still 
occasionally revived by an attempted exhibition of a 
tame performing bear.* 
* Singularly enough while these pages were passing through the 
press the daily papers of August 11, 1880, furnished a report of a 
summons which had just been heard by the magistrate at Greenwich 
against two Frenchmen who had keen brought before him “ charged 
with exhibiting a bear in the streets, to the danger of the public.” A 
constable stated that on the afternoon of the previous day he was on 
duty at Rushey Green, Lewisham, when a party of ladies drove up in 
a carriage and said that some men were performing with a strange 
animal at Catford Bridge, and that their horse would not pass it. He 
went to the bridge, where he saw the two Frenchmen with a bear, 
which was dancing, turning summersaults, and climbing a pole. He 
told them that such exhibitions were not allowed in the public streets, 
and on their continuing the performance he took them into custody. 
The magistrate told the men that if they would at once leave the 
country with the bear, he would let them go. They gave the desired 
promise, and were accordingly discharged. 
